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Blown Up Rifle, Lessons To Be Learned.

Boatninja

Gunny Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Sep 3, 2018
999
892
Out there somewhere
Very experienced and cautious Hand loader made a very bad mistake when he grabbed CFE Pistol instead of CFE 223. No serious injuries. Parts are where they landed and pictures speak for themselves.
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That’s amazing.

One time I was loading 9mm with N320 and swapped over to load 6.5 cm with H4350. The problem was I couldn’t remember what powder was in the chargemaster lol.

H4350 and N320 look very similar to the naked eye.

Needless to say my impact didn’t explode when I pulled the trigger but I was a little nervous.

Kinda of like those moments where you know you locked your car but your not sure if your car is locked?
 
That’s amazing.

One time I was loading 9mm with N320 and swapped over to load 6.5 cm with H4350. The problem was I couldn’t remember what powder was in the chargemaster lol.

H4350 and N320 look very similar to the naked eye.

Needless to say my impact didn’t explode when I pulled the trigger but I was a little nervous.

Kinda of like those moments where you know you locked your car but your not sure if your car is locked?

Yep do this a couple of times and you’ll start to leave the jug on the bench next to the CM. That being said, I’m looking at a 1/4 filled CM right now and I have no idea what powder is in it lol.
 
Yep do this a couple of times and you’ll start to leave the jug on the bench next to the CM. That being said, I’m looking at a 1/4 filled CM right now and I have no idea what powder is in it lol.
We all need a management system for using our powder. Mine is one powder and one powder only on the bench at a time. I never leave powder in the hopper when I done. And I toss any unknown powder.
 
Yep one Powder at a time. Keep it stored in a separate room.

I am surprised no one is bashing Eugene Stoner like they went off on Mark Serbu.

Glad no one was injured.
 
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Yep do this a couple of times and you’ll start to leave the jug on the bench next to the CM. That being said, I’m looking at a 1/4 filled CM right now and I have no idea what powder is in it lol.
I've taken to putting a piece of masking tape with the powder written on it on my Dillon and to top it off a piece of tape goes on the primer tube with what primers are in the tube. Jeezus getting old sucks.
 
I've taken to putting a piece of masking tape with the powder written on it on my Dillon and to top it off a piece of tape goes on the primer tube with what primers are in the tube. Jeezus getting old sucks.
Getting old is when you can't remember if you replaced the tape that was supposed to keep you straight on what powder was in the hopper and dump the powder anyway.
 
He takes full responsibility but turns out he ordered CFE223 and was sent the CFE pistol, contacted retailer and their records only show CFE. More than a few lessons here. He has been loading for over 15 years and is an avid shooter and area PRS competitor. I have learned more from him about loading than any source other than Forums and books. He brought parts for me to take a closer look at tonight but I was busy and didn't connect.
Rocketvapor, it was a Bushmaster and ForgeValley he was wearing Bahio Sunglasses and had minor cuts on his face and a cut on his elbow that bled pretty good but didn't need stitches. Said it was really loud and he was kinda sore.
 
Green and Blue labels , I guess to some folks eyes those colors may look similar ?

Glad he is OK .
 
I've taken to putting a piece of masking tape with the powder written on it on my Dillon and to top it off a piece of tape goes on the primer tube with what primers are in the tube. Jeezus getting old sucks.
Thats what I do too. I only use one powder at a time but I lable my hopper with blue tape for whatever I'm using. It's a good system
 
Yep one Powder at a time. Keep it stored in a separate room.

I am surprised no one is bashing Eugene Stoner like they went off on Mark Serbu.

Glad no one was injured.
Because of your last statement is why

Nobody argues the Serbu or any 50 would or wouldn’t fail under same circumstances. The arguments are towards how and what occurred when it failed

I suppose we need to keep in mind there’s a substantial difference between 50 and 223

But that was the argument. Now back to the OP

Glad your ok. Thank you for sharing as it may help someone else prevent the same from happening
 
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Because of your last statement is why

Nobody argues the Serbu or any 50 would or wouldn’t fail under same circumstances. The arguments are towards how and what occurred when it failed

I suppose we need to keep in mind there’s a substantial difference between 50 and 223

But that was the argument. Now back to the OP

Glad your ok. Thank you for sharing as it may help someone else prevent the same from happening
I saw he posted this later. 0D5373EB-F2EB-4F5E-A9A7-5570397599B8.jpeg

The potential for injury was definitely there. 25gr vs 250 is a complete different ball game when it was likely the same mistake. Pistol powder and rifle cartridge. Marks name was drug through the dirt over a reloading error, not a design flaw.

Any gun can blow up, they all have potential to injure, especially high powered cartridges.

Glade no one was seriously injured. Be safe, all it takes is one slip up!
 
Sure glad your friend survived with 'minor' injuries.
One question on the order, you can see your order details.
Is there a chance your friend put CFE Pistol in his cart by mistake?
I can go back and look at stuff I ordered.
 
Really glad the injuries were minor.
We ALL gotta be careful!
 
I contend that pistol powder should never be stored in the same area as rifle. I started this practice when I started reloading and have never deviated from it. Hodgdon brand in particular doesn't do the best job of making labels distinctly different between powders. AS for age, that doesn't help either. :ROFLMAO:
 
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Personally I load powder in the chargemaster when I get to that step. After completed the dispenser gets emptied into original jug and placed back on shelf. So there’s no question of what’s in the dispenser

Only powder jug on the bench is what’s in the dispenser
 
We all need a management system for using our powder. Mine is one powder and one powder only on the bench at a time. I never leave powder in the hopper when I done. And I toss any unknown powder.

Same, only one canister sitting next to the CM, and the hopper is always emptied after I'm done for the night. Hopefully a side effect is limiting humidity impacts as well.
 
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We all need a management system for using our powder. Mine is one powder and one powder only on the bench at a time. I never leave powder in the hopper when I done. And I toss any unknown powder.

I have a hang tags with powder names on the dispenser.

And if I ever have the slightest doubt about what is in it, I will empty it, toss that in the trash, and refill it with whatever I'm supposed to be using.

I'm not going to risk an eye, or worse, to save a few bucks.
 
I contend that pistol powder should never be stored in the same area as rifle. I started this practice when I started reloading and have never deviated from it. :ROFLMAO:
I do the same thing. I only have about 4 Pistol powders, I keep them in a separate plastic container ,in a different area away from the where the Rifle powders are kept.
 
Marks name was drug through the dirt over a reloading error, not a design flaw.

Any gun can blow up
His name was dragged through the dirt because there was insufficient care given to understanding what the failure mode would be in the event your second line becomes true. that failure mode turns out to be “90% chance you die from flying bits of shorn-off steel”

Nearly all firearms manufacturers and general consumer product engineering pay attention to the failure modes of thier products, because no one wants the bad press (or lawsuits) for failing to do due diligence. Mark got lucky in that he is in one of two industries where the bar for proving negligent design is very high (firearms and pharmaceuticals)
 
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His name was dragged through the dirt because there was insufficient care given to understanding what the failure mode would be in the event your second line becomes true. that failure mode turns out to be “90% chance you die from flying bits of shorn-off steel”

Nearly all firearms manufacturers and general consumer product engineering pay attention to the failure modes of thier products, because no one wants the bad press (or lawsuits) for failing to do due diligence. Mark got lucky in that he is in one of two industries where the bar for proving negligent design is very high (firearms and pharmaceuticals)
Did you see what’s happened to the Barrett? When loaded with pistol powder, potentially just as deadly.
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Where did you get this 90% number? As far as I know, no one has been killed by one of Marks guns malfunctioning, so in reality its zero.

This guy, op’s buddy. Who inadvertently put pistol powder in his AR 15 was mildly injured from it. Why aren’t people screaming about how Eugene Stoner should designed a gun that doesn’t blow up and pepper people with Shrap Metal.

Massive double standard some of you guys are selling here.

All firearms are inherently dangerous. Take precautions.
 
Did you see what’s happened to the Barrett? When loaded with pistol powder, potentially just as deadly.
Yes, I saw, and while it certainly goes bang, most of the shrapnel grenades outwards laterally, not straight back at your face and body.

Scott has blown up two RN 50s, once with himself as the unfortunate subject, and one with a stand-in. in both cases the “ears” became frag that went right backwards at the shooter.

no one is screaming at eugene stoner for the same reason they aren’t screaming at ronnie barret, when those respective firearms have a massive overpressure event, they are not practically guarnteed to send lethal shrapnel in the worst possible direction, instead venting most of the force in directions other than the shooter.
 
Yes, I saw, and while it certainly goes bang, most of the shrapnel grenades outwards laterally, not straight back at your face and body.

Scott has blown up two RN 50s, once with himself as the unfortunate subject, and one with a stand-in. in both cases the “ears” became frag that went right backwards at the shooter.

no one is screaming at eugene stoner for the same reason they aren’t screaming at ronnie barret, when those respective firearms have a massive overpressure event, they are not practically guarnteed to send lethal shrapnel in the worst possible direction, instead venting most of the force in directions other than the shooter.
Apparently you missed the chunks of metal that imbedded in the ballistics dummy.

Or if you had your face on that scope that big ass piece of metal will hit you very hard.

Definitely a chance of injury!

Denial of that is just...really what’s wrong with you.
 
I dunno. One dude was rushed to a hospital with a thumb in his neck, the other guy grabbed some band aids and took pictures. 🤷‍♂️
I hear you, but you’re also comparing a .223 to a .50.
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Would you sit behind that Barrett with a cartridge loaded with pistol powered powder and trust your life to it??
 
Either one regardless of size would cause some damage. I prefer not having metal lodged in my neck

Go shoot your Serbu. You’ll be just fine
 
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Did you see what’s happened to the Barrett? When loaded with pistol powder, potentially just as deadly. View attachment 7972058



Where did you get this 90% number? As far as I know, no one has been killed by one of Marks guns malfunctioning, so in reality its zero.

This guy, op’s buddy. Who inadvertently put pistol powder in his AR 15 was mildly injured from it. Why aren’t people screaming about how Eugene Stoner should designed a gun that doesn’t blow up and pepper people with Shrap Metal.

Massive double standard some of you guys are selling here.

All firearms are inherently dangerous. Take precautions.

It’s a fucking over sized zip gun. But this is a hijack from the topic at hand which is safety and precautions to take to ensure you don’t use the wrong powder….IMO, of course.
 
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It’s a fucking over sized zip gun. But this is a hijack from the topic at hand which is safety and precautions to take to ensure you don’t use the wrong powder….IMO, of course.
You realize the wrong powder is what caused Scotts accident. Not a poor design. I dont think there is a rifle on the market that would “safely” handle that.

Pistol powder in a Rifle cart is dangerous no matter what it is or who designed it.